Mansfield Police’s newest supervisors up to task

MANSFIELD – Mansfield police have been developing through multiple staff changes this year, but supervisors say they’re up to the challenge.

Friday, the department promoted three officers to supervising positions: Joe Petrycki was promoted to lieutenant, and Stephen Brane and Jason Bammann were promoted to sergeant.

“We all know supervising people is not always the easiest thing, especially when you’re supervising your peers,” Chief of Police Ken Coontz said. “The community is very lucky to have these gentlemen in our police ranks.”

All three are veteran officers.

Petrycki has worn many hats during his 18 years with the department.

Most recently he has headed the METRICH Enforcement Unit, after Keith Porch assumed the assistant chief position in February. Because of that role, Petrycki already understands what it means to be a supervisor and hold people accountable, Coontz said.

Now that he’s back in uniform — and clean-shaven — he’ll be working night shift.

“I worked night shift 19 years with some of the guys still there,” Petrycki said. “I’m looking forward to it.”

With Petrycki leaving METRICH, the position of sergeant is open again. The department has posted the job and will be filling the position in about 10 days, Coontz said.

The move also allowed Lt. Joyce Stortz to return to METRICH, he said.

Brane and Bammann will both work afternoon shift.

After 15 years on patrol at the department, Bammann said he’s excited about the new direction in his career.

“I’m ready to do some fun police work,” Bammann said.

Despite his own success, Bammann also has a legacy of respect and success to follow. His father, Mike Bammann, spent 30 years with the department and was best known as the operations supervisor at METRICH.

Brane is one of the newer officers, having been with the department seven years, but says he’s looking forward to the learning experience.

“It will be exciting to do what people I looked up to did,” Brane said.

Brane’s most recent claim to fame at the department was initiating the fundraiser that allowed officers to grow beards for charity last winter.

Male officers were able to grow out their facial hair and women paint their nails to raise money for United Way. The stunt helped the department give about $3,000 more than their usual contribution, the department previously said.

And the department isn’t done growing yet.

Coontz said they expect to promote two more officers to sergeant by the first week of November — Stacie Garrick and Nelson Kilgore Jr., and will be hiring two officers in the next 30 days.